Blast furnace tuyere



"March 15, 1932- R. H. LEDBr-:TTER BLAST FURNACE TUYRE Filed July 5. 1928 Sws s Patented Mar. 15, 1932 i nor n. LEDBE'rrEa, or FAIRFIELD, imma' BLAST FUnNAcE TUYRE Application led July 5,

This invention aims to provide an improved refractory tuyre having longer life than water-cooled tuyres heretofore used. The construction of myimproved tuyre will be fully apparent from the following specifcation when read in connection with the A accompanying drawings and the features of novelty will be define with particularity in the appended claims. In the drawings- F igf. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the bosh section of a blast furnace showing a typical form of tuyre cooler having my improved tuyre detachably held, therein;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailshowing a portion of the tuyre cooler with my improved tuyre fitted thereto; .4

yF'g. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section through a tuyre embodying my invention; F ig. 4 is a detail longitudinal section of a orting ring forming part of the tuyre; ig. 5 is a longitudinal section throu h a tuyre cooler having a modifi-ed form o my improved tuyre applied thereto.

In the drawings, 10 represents the bosh section of a blast furnace which is providedv with a water-cooled tuyere cooler 12 having suitable inlet and outlet pipes 14 and 16 by means of which a circulation of cooling water is maintained. The cooler 12 is formed with a substantially frustoconical central chamber 18. My improved tuyre indicated as a whole at 20 is adapted to be detachably secured to the tuyre cooler 12. The tuyre is provided with a supporting ring 22, the outer surface 24 of which is tapered to correspondl with the taper of the conical chamber 18 of the tuyre cooler. The ring 22 is undercut so as to provide a socket portion 26 which is adapted to receive the shank portion 28 of the .tuyre body 30 which is preferably formed of carborundum or similar refractory material. The tuyre body 30 is of tubular form so asto provide a central blast opening 32.

The annular wall 26 of thel supporting ring 22 is inclined inwardly and the shank portion 2S of the tuyere body is inclined outwardly so as to facilitate'the keying or locking of the refractory tuyr'e body to the metallic supporting ring. In the embodiment 1928. Serial No. 290,541.

of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, theftuyre body is cemented--y or bonded to the supporting ring 22 by means of a body of high temperature cement indcated at 34. The outside diametervof the large end of the shank 28 is slightly less than .the smaller diameter of the socket 36 so that' the parts can be readily assembled. i In assembling, the cement is applied to the annular'wall of the socket 26 and the tuyre body is then pressed into position. 7

If desired, openings may the supporting lring as indicated at34 in Fig. 4 so as to permit introduction of cement therethrough and provide-an interlocking of the body of cement with the ring. l The rlng 22 is provided with a seat or depression 36 shaped to t the extremity 38 of l a blow pipe 40 which inv turn engages a spigot portion 42 of an elbow fittingl 44 forming part of the blow stock indicated at 46.' The member 46 is connected by a link 48 to the bracket 50 mounted on the furnace structure.

be vprovided in The fitting 42 is yieldingly held against the blow pipe 40 by means of a compression 4spring 52 surrounding a pivoted-link 54, said spring bearing against an extension 56 formed on the elbow 44. As thus arranged, it is clear that blow pipe 40 serves to hold the tuyre supporting ,ring 22 in engagement with the tapered annular wall of the tuyre cooler chamber 18.

In some instances, my improved tuyre may be formed entirely of carborundum or similar refractory material as indicated in Fig. 5 wherein the tuyre body 30EL is prox vided with an integral heel portion58,l thei outer surface 60 of which is ofv frustoconical form to fit the taperedl opening in the end of the chamber 18`of' the tuyre cooler. In this form of tuyre, the refractory lbody will'b'e provided with a ground seat portion 36l for engagement with the end 38of the blow pipe l e My improved tuyre possesses several advantages over the water-cooled tuyres now in common use. It has a longer life than such Water-cooled tuyres and, therefore, reduces the cost of this item of blast furnace maintenance. Because of this long life,

fewer tuyre changes are required than lheretofore found necessary. This saves blast furnace shut-downs' with the accompanying loss of tonnage. The new tuyre conserves heat due to the'fact that no cooling water is circulated therethrough. Obviously, it also effects a saving of water over the water-cooled tuyres heretofore used.

When tuyre changes are necessary, this operation can be accomplished quicker with the refractory tuyre than with the Watercooled tuyre because of the lack of the necessity of making Water connections. My invention also provides a tuyre which is not so liable .to cause explosions such as frequently occur by the burning out of Watercooled tuyres. i It, therefore, provides greater safety or security for workmen and cut-s down the cost of blast furnace maintenance by saving the cost of making repairs incident to the explosions occasioned by the burning out of Water-cooled tuyres.

While I have described quite specifically the detailsof the embodiment of the invention herein shown and described, it is to be understood that both the language and illustrations are to be interpreted in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense.

What I claim is l. In combination with a blast furnace tuyre cooler having a tapered chamber extending` longitudinally thereof, a tuyre of the character'describ'ed comprising an annular body of refractory material extending beyond the end ofthe tuyre cooler and having an outwardly flared shank, a metal supporting ringl having an inwardly flared socket in which said shank is secured, said supporting ring being tapered to fit the chamber of the tuyre cooler` and removably engaging said tuyre cooler.

2. In combination with a blast furnace tuyre cooler, a tuyre comprising a solid metallic supporting ring fitted to the inner end of said tuyre cooler, said ring having a. socket formed therein and an annular refractory tuyre body projecting beyond the end of said ring and extending beyond the end of said tuyre cooler and having a shank portlon bonded Within the socket of said ring.

3. A blast furnace tuyre comprising a metallic supporting ring of solid cross section having an undercut socket formed therein and an annular'tuyre body of refractory material such as carborundum having a shank portion secured Within said undercut socket.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

ROY H. LEDBETTER, 

